MQSP - Chapter 10
Chapter 10
"What's wrong? Why don't you agree? She acted quite well, and she didn't have any stage fright at all when she was acting opposite you. In fact, you were the one who seemed a little off your game," Su Yu said in a light tone. She didn't know why Lin Yuqing's expression had suddenly turned so sour, so she could only try to feel out what she was thinking.
"There's no reason. I just don't agree. If you're going to cast her, you might as well find a new female lead while you're at it." Lin Yuqing's attitude was exceptionally firm, and she didn't even offer a reason, which Su Yu found completely baffling.
"Did she offend you?"
Lin Yuqing was noncommittal.
"Or is it because she looks a little like…" Su Yu didn't get to finish the name before Lin Yuqing shot her a glare that shut her up.
"Fine, but you have to give me a reason. I don't see any problem with her acting. Her personality is gentle, and she's good at adapting."
Lin Yuqing remained silent, and Su Yu was growing truly exasperated. "You can't possibly reject her just because she's Lu Qing's student, can you?"
She's Lu Qing's student? Lin Yuqing's eyes widened, and she almost laughed out of anger. Great. Just how many more things is this little rascal hiding from me!
"That's right. I don't want her precisely because she's Lu Qing's student." Lin Yuqing seized the excuse, offering a barely plausible reason.
Su Yu slapped her forehead in frustration. "Lin Yuqing, are you insane?! I won't meddle in the grudge between you and Lu Qing, but do you really have to take it out on a student? Besides!"
"You've seen the situation with the production team. Practically no one is coming to audition. It's rare enough that someone showed up, and she's such a good fit. Wouldn't I have to be crazy to turn her down?" Su Yu couldn't help but blurt out the truth.
Just as the two were arguing and the atmosphere grew tense, someone knocked on the door. "Boss, another young lady is here to audition."
Both women froze. Lin Yuqing let out a sigh of relief. Su Yu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Tell everyone to get ready."
Meanwhile, as soon as Gu Baiye stepped out of the dressing room, Wang Qiong rushed over to console her, telling her that her acting was good and that she shouldn't be discouraged. But how could she not be discouraged after being personally rejected by Auntie Lin? It felt like she had thrown a punch with all her might only to hit empty air and stumble. Then she remembered how Auntie Lin had previously called her "too clever for her own good," and her cheeks burned. She had been showing off her meager skills in front of a true master. Will she hate me now?
As Wang Qiong walked her out of the studio, Gu Baiye was lost in thought and didn't say much. Just as they were about to leave the film lot, they ran into someone asking for directions to the 《Half a Lifetime of Peace》 set. Wang Qiong, with her sharp ears, overheard and went over to strike up a conversation. After a brief chat, Wang Qiong was delighted to learn the girl was also there to audition. After saying goodbye to Baiye, she eagerly led the newcomer toward the set.
Gu Baiye watched their retreating figures from a distance, her heart sinking. She recognized the girl. It was Ye Jingwen, the top third-year student in the performance department at Qin Chuan Film Academy and a prominent figure at their school. Before even graduating, she had already signed with an entertainment company, acted in three television dramas, and even landed a second female lead role. And according to her public profile, the person she admired most was Lin Yuqing.
With such a formidable competitor, an invisible pressure settled over Gu Baiye, making her steps feel heavy.
Just as she stepped out of the film studio, she got a call from Xia Xiaozi, who told her to meet her in the nearby parking lot.
In the car, Xia Xiaozi took out a wet wipe to help Baiye with her sweat. Only then did Baiye realize the back of her shirt was soaked through.
"What's going on? Why didn't you tell me you had an audition?" Xia Xiaozi was still bewildered. The moment she'd seen Baiye, she had envisioned her boss tearing her limb from limb.
"I…" Gu Baiye looked embarrassed and briefly explained what had happened.
"I was afraid I wouldn't pass the audition and get my hopes up for nothing, so I didn't tell you. I had no idea Auntie Lin would be there. If I'd known, I would have asked you first…" Baiye said, frustrated with herself.
Xia Xiaozi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This must be fate, she thought.
"But hey, seriously, your performance today was really good." Xia Xiaozi gave her a thumbs-up. She had never actually seen Baiye act before, and today's performance had stunned her. Especially the moment when Baiye knelt before Lin Yuqing and met her gaze—that look contained so much emotion. You couldn't pull that off without solid skills.
"But Auntie Lin…" At the mention of her, Gu Baiye's head drooped again. "Auntie Lin was angry, and she doesn't want me…"
"Don't think that way. I'm guessing it was just too sudden, and she wasn't mentally prepared. Don't worry, as long as the director likes you, you'll be fine." Xia Xiaozi patted her on the shoulder encouragingly.
"Home or back to school? I'll give you a ride."
"Back to school, please. I have an exam tomorrow, so I need to go study." Gu Baiye forced herself to perk up.
"Okay. When does your break start? I'll come pick you up."
"But Auntie Lin…"
"Who cares what she thinks? Are you telling me you're too scared to even go home because of this?"
…I am a little…
When Gu Baiye got back to school, she headed straight for the cafeteria. She had left in such a rush that morning that she'd skipped breakfast, and now, at one in the afternoon, her stomach was cramping with hunger. She hurriedly bought a bowl of millet porridge.
Lu Qing had just finished her meal and was walking out with several other teachers, laughing and talking, when she spotted Gu Baiye. She excused herself from the group, telling them to go on ahead, and then walked over to sit down across from her student.
"So, how did it go, little one? Your first audition. How did it feel?" Lu Qing rested her chin on her hand, smiling at her.
Gu Baiye glanced up at her and quickly swallowed her food. "Teacher Lu." The memory of the audition made her lower her head again.
"What's wrong? It didn't go well?" Lu Qing keenly sensed her dejection. "Were you too nervous? Did you underperform? Or was the scenario Su Yu gave you too bizarre for you to handle?"
"It was okay, it's just…"
"They told me to wait for a call."
Lu Qing was exasperated. "Isn't that completely normal? She has to consider every actor who auditions. Don't worry, I'll ask for you later."
"There's no need. I'll just wait for their call."
Lu Qing couldn't help but reach out and pat her on the head. "Alright, don't be so dejected. This is all part of the process. If it doesn't work out this time, there will be other opportunities. Just think of it as gaining experience."
The affectionate gesture startled Gu Baiye, and she subtly shifted away. "I know. Thank you, Teacher Lu."
Lu Qing also realized her gesture might have been inappropriate and quickly withdrew her hand. "Well, I'll be going then. Take your time."
"Okay. Goodbye, Teacher."
"Mm."
As she walked out of the cafeteria, Lu Qing looked down at her hand. Why did I suddenly reach out like that? I nearly scared the poor girl…
That afternoon, Lu Qing couldn't resist calling Su Yu. She was simply too curious about how Gu Baiye had performed.
"Hey, Su. How's the casting going? Have you made a decision yet?"
"Hey, I was just about to call you. Baiye's performance was excellent, but…"
"But what?"
"Yuqing doesn't want her."
Lu Qing was stunned. "What?"
"Lin Yuqing doesn't want her? Why?"
"I asked, but she wouldn't say. However, after she found out Baiye was your student, she was even more against it…"
"That woman!" A surge of anger welled up in Lu Qing's chest. What does she mean she wants her even less after finding out she's my student? Is she taking her anger toward me out on Baiye? What gives her the right!
"What are you even doing? You're the director! Why are you letting her lead you around by the nose?"
"She said if I cast Baiye, she'll walk out. It puts me in a really tough spot!"
"Some director you are, needing to get approval just to cast a minor supporting actress?" Lu Qing was genuinely furious.
"Wait, a minor supporting actress?"
"The role of An Liang doesn't even have that many scenes. Are you really going to pull some shady, behind-the-scenes crap for an audition like this?" Lu Qing didn't notice the questioning tone in Su Yu's voice and continued her verbal assault.
"An Liang? Hey, wait a minute, that's not right. Are you saying that Baiye originally came to audition for the role of An Liang?"
"Yes. She's been studying the character for days."
"Let me go try to sort this out." With that, she hung up abruptly.
Lu Qing listened to the dial tone, a look of utter confusion on her face. What the hell kind of production team is this? The director doesn't even know which role an actor is auditioning for?
That evening, Gu Baiye was sitting at her desk studying for her exam when her phone chimed with a new text message. She picked it up, glanced at the screen, and immediately shot up from her chair in excitement.
"What's with you? Did you step on a cat's tail?" her roommate asked, startled by the sudden movement.
Gu Baiye paused, confused for a moment. She looked down at her feet. "A cat?"
"…"
Seeing her roommate roll her eyes in exasperation, Baiye finally caught on and chuckled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." With that, she ran out of their dorm room and down to the window at the end of the hall.
She immediately dialed Xia Xiaozi's number. She had good news and had to share it with her auntie right away!
"Hello, Auntie! I just got a message telling me to go to the set for a makeup test the day after tomorrow. Does that mean I passed the audition?"
"Really? That's great! Wonderful, that's fantastic!"
"What about Auntie Lin…"
"Hang on, let me check… Hmm… she's on the sofa reading, same as always. No particular expression on her face. And she didn't chew me out when she got back, so it should be fine."
"Really?!"
"Yeah, it's fine. Don't wor—"
"Xia Xiaozi!"
Xia Xiaozi hadn't even finished her sentence when Lin Yuqing's furious shout echoed from behind her. Gu Baiye heard it clearly, and the heart that had just settled leaped back into her throat. "Auntie?"
The other end of the line went silent, and then the call disconnected. Gu Baiye panicked. Listening to the dial tone, she felt helpless. Auntie Lin is still angry after all. She's probably going to yell at Auntie…
Clutching her phone, she didn't know what to do. She looked down at the text from Su Yu, her earlier excitement now considerably dampened. If she joined the cast, would Auntie Lin get even angrier? But this was an opportunity she had fought so hard for—a chance to act alongside Auntie Lin, to even play a couple with her, to be so close… Wait. Was Auntie Lin so angry because she didn't want to be that intimate with her?
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